Spark-tester.



. F. A RUBENS.

v SPARK TES TER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2. 191a.

1,298,)795/ Patented Apr. 1,1919.

E TATlll ESFARK-TESTEE.

mum

Specification of Letters Patent.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Fnnourcn A. RUBENS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State-of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulSpark-Tester; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Theinvcntion has forits object to provide a simple convenient means -for testing the spark plugs of gasolene driven engines. The spark plug tester is particularly useful to automobile drivers and provides an etlicient, as well as a convenient means for not only testing the current that is supplied throu h the conductor to an individual spark. plug, )ut also of testing the relative sparl ing conditions of the plu s of an automobile. From the sparking conditions, as indicated by the tester, may be determined any of the operative conditions under which the cylinders of the invention may be working. Hence the value of the invention lies not only in the convenience of its embodiment. but also in the utility which it, has.

The, structure may be embodied in the'end of a lead pencil, and inasmuch as it can be cheaply made the structure may be used for advertisingie purposes, and owing to its simplicity, its reception by the public is assured. v

The invention may be contained in structures of different forms. I have selected one of the forms of a construction contain" ing the invention for the purpose of illustrating the embodiment of the invention and shall describe it hereinafter. The structure selected is iupehcil containing the in vention and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 of the drawing illustrates the section of the pencil and spark plug tester. Fig. 2 illustrates a side View of the tester and also illustrates its method of use.

Fig. 1 is acylindrical. body which may be in the form of a lead pencil which is provided. in the particular form shown,

with the lead core 2. In the upper end of the cylindrical member, which may hc formed of wood, is located a contact mem- Patented Apr. a, wee.

Application filed August 2, 1918. Serial No. 2%83318.

her 3. The contact member may he in the form of a plate and it may be in the form of a cap as shown in Fig. 1.. -A conductor 4 is connected to the cap 3. The conductor 4 may be the shank of a nail shaped member of which the'plate of cap 3 may constitute the head. The conductor shank 4: is inserted in the space that is formed in making the usual lead pencil for receiving the lead or graphite core.-

' The cylindrical member is provided with an opening 5 that extends transversely through the cylindrical member. The com .ductor or shank i is pointed preferably at its end 6 and extends a short distance into the opening 5. A conductor 7 extends trans versely through the cylindrical member 1 and passes through the opening; 5 and in proximity to the end 6 of the shank of conductor 4. The end 6 of the conductor 4 and.

the conductor 7 -are preferably so located.

that the space between the two parts will be positioned at about the center of the opening 5. Inasmuch as the spark is formed hetwcen the said two parts when connection is made with the terminals of the spark plug tested by the tester, and inasmuch as the parts are located in the opening 5 they are shielded 'lroi'n sunlight and a clear visual effect of the current, used in producing the spark in the terminalsot the spark plug is produced in the opening. The conductor '2' may be formed of wire and may be locked in position in the cylindrical member 1 by suitablytnrned ends. Also if desired the conductor 7 may be slightly curved in that portion thereof located in vicinity of the terminal of the conductor of *ire 4.

Inasmuch as spark plugs have an insulator formed of porcelain which surrounds the central conductor the spark plug, means is provided for making contact with the central core or the thumb nut commonly used for connecting a conductor with the central core. This means is of such a character that'the tester may he held in a vertical position so as to make a good square contact with the engine top or with the threaded shell of the spark plug and at the same time make the contact with the thumb nut of the park plug. In the form of the invention shown the ordinary lead pencil or fountain pen clip or pocket edge holder, which may be purchased at stationery stores, etc, is used. The lead pencil holder is usuall provided with a split collar for receiving the pencil and the and 7 in the opening-3. 1 the plugs of split collar is usually provided with openings located on opposite sides. A lead peneil holder may be slipped over the cylindrical member 1 so that split collar 9 of the holder lO'register with the opening 5 formed in the cylindrical body of pencil 1. \Vhen inthis position the clip of holder 10 will make contact with the wire or conductor 7, and the finger member 11 used for opening the lip will be located in proximity to the opening The opening 5 1s located at a distance from the ca p or plate 3 which is about equal to the height of the thumb nut of the spark threaded shell of the plug. This will bring the finger member 11 of the clip 10 in proper position when the cap 3 is placed on the top of the shell, will make contact with the thumb nut of the spark plug. In the form shown the contact member 11 will make contact with the thumb nut 12 when the cap 3 is placed on the shell 13 of the spark plug. Inasmuch as the member 11 is yielding in character the cylindrical member may be positioned \"erticallyto bring the end of the cap 3 squarely on the top of the shell 13, and the member 11 will at the same time make contact with the thumb Hal lien the tester is positioned on the spark plug tr'ie current through the spark lug will be divided, or possibly will be S'lOl't circuited thy mph thecap 3 the conductor 4 and the clip 10 nd conductor 7- whcreupmr'a spark will appear between the condurtoTYs' l I The Sparking of an automobile may thus be compared. i

The clip not only forms a convenient means of readily making contact with the the openings 8 of thewhereby the tester plug above the' so that the elastic member 11 named conductor thumb nut of sparkplugs but also will provide a-means for securing the tester in thepocket of the user. The long cylindrical member to which the tester is connected ,and forms a part, provides a handle locatednvell above the spark plug maybe easily regulated and the'test' made.

'I claim:

1. In a spark plug tester, a" cylindrical member having an opening formed therein at a point near one end thereof, a conductor extending from the said end of the cylindrical member to the said opening, a second conductor extending transversely through the said cylindrical member and located in the said opening and in proximityto the end of the first named conductor, a spring memberelectrically connected witlrthe second named conductor for making connection with the core of the spark plug.

2. In a spark'plug tester. a cylindrical member having an opening formed therein at a point near one end thereof, a conductor extending from the said end of the cylindrical mcmber to the said opening. a second conductor extending transversely through the said cylindrical member and located in the said opening and in proximity to'the end of the first named conductor, a spring member electrically connected with the second for making connection ith th core of the spark plug. a cap connected to the first named conductor for making electrical connection with the shell of' the spark plug.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

. FREniuoK A. ROBENS.

of, different sizes, 

